Who We Are
Filmed by Loch of Shining Waters
Splash for Cash at the Meedies
supporting Benarty Fundraisers
Lochgelly Xmas
supporting Lochgelly Christmas Lights
Gelly Loch
by Shining Waters
Who We Are & What We Do
Loch of Shining Waters was formed and launched on 1st January 2010. The name of the project is derived from the Gelly Loch. The word Gelly is from a Gaelic word; ‘Gheallaidh‘ which loosely translated means ‘Shining Waters‘ or ‘Loch of Brightness‘. We chose this name to mark the significance of our local heritage and environment which has given the town its namesake.
Background
Background
Loch of Shining Waters started as a non-profit voluntary group which was officially launched on the 1st January 2010 as a community resource site for Lochgelly, with the aim to highlight local positive and negative developments to (a) raise awareness to the wider online public, and (b) encourage local open debate online & offline.
On the 17th November 2012, the group formalised the organisation by signing a constitution and selecting a board of members. By March 2014 the project was developed into a Social Enterprise so we can better serve the local community.
Our work primarily deals with local community based news, transparency & accountability of elected representatives and the local authority, technical support and development, partnership work with other like-minded groups and individuals, community engagement and development, and hands-on volunteering work within the local community.
Constitution
Constitution
Loch of Shining Waters has been in operation from 1st January 2010 as a constituted voluntary organisation. In December 2013, the board members voted to dissolve the organisation in it’s current format, so that the organisation can be further developed into a Social Enterprise.
a social enterprise is a business with primarily social objectives whose surpluses are principally reinvested for that purpose in the business or the community
(adapted from the definition of the Department of Trade and Industry)
As of 20th March 2014, Loch of shining Waters has been incorporated as a company limited by guarantee and not having a share capital. Our company number is SC473024.
Articles of Association: View full document (PDF)
Objects
Objects
The organisation is established for as a social enterprise, and in particular, the objects are to: –
- advance citizenship and community development through the provision of a community resource site, with the aim to highlight local positive and negative developments to raise awareness to the wider online public, publishing of local news, highlighting planning applications and planning issues and promoting local democracy & transparency and encourage local open debate’
- advance environmental protection and improvement by working on a variety of regeneration projects, capacity projects and raising environmental issues;
- advance education through the provision of media & environmental workshops for youths and other socially excluded individuals and groups;
- advance the arts, heritage and culture by gathering and centralising historical information about the local area, and providing consultancy and media design services;
- provide local non-profit groups with an online platform to help raise awareness of their groups, their social objectives, and all their latest local events, news, developments, and projects and to promote creativity and community ownership and community initiatives and the sharing of information within the community;
- advance such similar purposes, promote, establish, operate and/or support others in and develop any other projects, initiatives or activities for the benefit of the community as the directors may consider appropriate and to supply all such ancillary services and facilities as the directors may consider appropriate from time to time.
Awards & Funding
WS Awards
Silver Award
2010
Web Site Awards is a definitive “peoples” award and is awarded to acknowledge talented individuals that have striven to create a web site experience for its visitors. WS Awards aim to give webmasters recognition for their dedication and hard work, regardless of knowledge and experience.
Nominet Internet Award
Online Public Services & Information - Runner Up
2012
Loch of Shining Waters was lucky to be a runner up in the Nominet Internet Awards 2012 for Online Public Services & Information. The Nominet awards celebrate the Internet as a force for good, as well as recognising the achievements and innovation of UK internet initiatives.
Scotland Against Spin
Funding
2013-2014
Scotland Against Spin is an independent alliance campaigning for the reform of the Scottish Government’s unsustainable wind energy policy. Scotland Against Spin donated funds to Loch of Shining Waters to pay for web hosting costs between 2013-2014.
Project Shield
2017
After a successful application to Google, we were invited to join the Project Shield which aims to protect news sites and free expression from DDoS attacks on the web
Better Net Award
Making Cyberspace a better place
2010
The Better Net Awards is an exciting new programme from UnLtd and Nominet Trust to provide individuals with funding and support to improve and encourage the development of a safe, educational and inclusive Internet. The award comes from Nominet Trust but is managed by Scotland Unltd.
UK Web Archive
Archived for providing a unique snapshot into the local community
2013
Loch of Shining Waters is lucky to now be regularly archived as part of the UK Web Archive which is managed by the British Library in partnership with a range of organisations. The Archive contains sites that reflect the rich diversity of lives and interests throughout the UK.
4 Winds Trust
Funding
2014
4 Winds Trust is a funding organisation for the four communities in Central Fife (Auchtertool, Lochgelly, Lumphinnans, and Cowdenbeath). Funding was received for video equipment.
ICNN
Independent Community News Network
2017
Loch of Shining Waters joined the Independent Community News network which is the UK representative body for the independent community and hyperlocal news sector.
Scottish Parliament Motion
Motion S4M-00058 by Murdo Fraser
2011
That the Parliament congratulates the volunteers behind the award-winning community website, Lochgelly – Loch of Shining Waters. Motion supported by Jim Eadie, Mike MacKenzie, Stuart McMillan, Liz Smith, Humza Yousaf
Fife Council
Funding
2013-2014
Fife Council is the local authority for the Kingdom of Fife which has a range of initiatives to support community development throughout the kingdom. We received funding from Fife Council to pay for legal costs in setting up our organisation as Social Enterprise.
SURF Award
Most Improved Town
2016
Our work with various groups and individuals on the Lochgelly Going Forward committee helped win Lochgelly a SURF Award for the most improved town in Scotland.
Social Partnerships and local campaigns
We are dedicated to working towards the positive regeneration of Lochgelly and surrounding areas by developing our own projects, and working in partnership with other local community groups and individuals. The benefits of Social Partnership working including the development of new ideas and projects to the benefit of our local communities.
The remit of the IWG was to consider the current planning application assessment processes, with particular reference to visualisations and residential amenity considerations. It was also set against lesson learned from the Department of Planning and Environmental Appeals (DPEA) appeal decision letters and specific issues raised by the local representatives and other parties around visual and residential impact. The credibility and usefulness of submitted photomontages and the need to ensure a robust and logical assessment of the planning issues is set out in a transparent and easily understood format in officer reports were also key elements in this improvement process.
For whatever reason, the work of our volunteers was refused. We now maintain the site providing it to residents as an extensive archive on the activities of the community council to help improve local accountability and transparency in the Lochgelly area.
The website has over 130 documents that we have put into the public domain which is expanding on a daily basis. All the documents relate to the activities of the Lochgelly Community Council, such as Mossmorran representation, Lochore Meadows, and other local initiatives. All the documents were sourced from investigations conducted by our volunteers, Freedom of Information requests, Fife Council, Lochgelly Community Council, residents and other third parties.
The website is available at www.lochgellycommunitycouncil.org.uk
